In the previous article we introduced the classification of medical devices and the performance requirements of commonly used medical plastics, and mentioned the types of medical plastics that are currently in common use, etc. In this article, we will introduce the performance of six types of medical plastics, namely PVC, PE, PS, PP, PTFE and PEEK.
| Material Name | Characteristics | Application | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC (polyvinyl chloride) | ① wide range of applications, low cost. ② easy to process ③ no fixed melting point, poor stability to light and heat. | blood bags, cannulas, etc. | |
| PE (polyethylene) | ① large production, low cost ② non-toxic ③ high chemical stability, biocompatibility is good ④ not easy to bond | PE is divided into two kinds. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is mainly used for medical packaging and intravenous containers. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) uses include artificial urethra, artificial lungs, artificial trachea, artificial larynx, artificial kidney, artificial bone, orthopedic repair materials. | PE has the largest production of plastics |
| PS (polystyrene) | ① mature production process, low cost ② dimensional stability ③ radiation resistance (sterilization) ④ poor heat resistance. | breathing apparatus and suction canisters, etc. | |
| PP (polypropylene) | ① chemical resistance ② electrical insulation ③ high strength mechanical properties ④ molding shrinkage, the processing of thicker products are prone to defects | disposable syringes, transparent plastic cover, pipette, parenteral nutritional packaging, dialysis film, etc. | |
| PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) | ①High crystallinity ②Good heat resistance ③Stable chemical properties | various types of artificial trachea, esophagus, bile duct, urethra and artificial skin, artificial bone, etc.. | PTFE has another common name "Teflon", but in fact "Teflon" includes PTFE, PFA, FEP, ETFE and other fluorine-containing plastics. |
| PEEK (polyether ether ketone) | ① high temperature resistance ② high strength, fatigue resistance ③ radiation resistance ④ can withstand repeated autoclaving | A substitute for metal in surgical and dental instruments, and as a substitute for titanium alloy in the manufacture of artificial bone. | Metal instruments may produce a residual shadow in the surgical clinical operation, affecting the doctor's field of vision, while PEEK has similar physical properties with stainless steel, but does not produce a residual shadow. |
Above is our introduction to six commonly used medical plastics, if you are interested in our products, you can click here to learn more about our medical mold and medical device injection molding products, or contact us by email [email protected] to get a free quote.
After understanding the properties of commonly used medical plastics, we also need to understand the specific requirements of each product. In our next article, we will introduce the industry development of low value medical consumables and what medical consumable products are now available in Yize Mould.
Medical Injection Molding Articles:
Medical Injection Molding (1) ---- Difficulties in Medical Device Injection Molding
Medical Injection Molding (2)---- Classification of Medical Devices and Performance Requirements
Medical Injection Molding (3) ---- Properties of Medical Plastics
Medical Injection Molding (4) ---- What are low value medical consumables?
